Arafat, a legacy of hope

Our hearts go out to the Palestinian people for the loss of their leader, Yasser Arafat, far from home in a Paris hospital. His passing is lamentable, not only for the people he led for more than three decades, but also for peace-loving people around the world who believe that all have a right to a homeland and to freedom and to live in peace with dignity.

No other epitaph is appropriate for Arafat than that he was truly a great leader -- even if he did not achieve the aims for which he fought, and even if he, at times, used force, or condoned its use, in the Palestinian struggle.

Now the Palestinian Authority -- the internationally recognized representative body of the Palestinian people -- faces the daunting task of choosing his successor. Arafat's shoes are a large pair to fill, but it is hoped that whoever is selected will give fresh impetus to the Mideast peace process.

Like most Palestinians, Arafat spent his entire life fighting and struggling for the restoration of Palestinian land, for a sovereign Palestinian state and for his people's freedom.

During the course of this struggle, he tried, but sadly failed, to strike an agreement with Israel that could have led to peace in the Middle East. Some blamed him for this impasse: Arafat was caught between the desire for peace and the desire to reclaim more land for his people than the Israelis were prepared to concede -- he chose to pursue the latter goal.

Arafat was a controversial figure who survived an Israeli prison and numerous death threats and assassination attempts. He was attacked from all sides, called "terrorist" by the Israelis and "traitor" by some of his own people, but this is something with which any leader with strong convictions must live.

His legitimacy as the leader of the Palestinian people did not come from his sworn enemies and critics, but from the majority of his people who stood by him to the end, and from much of the rest of the world, including Indonesia.

Most Indonesians identify with the Palestinians' struggle for a country of their own, as it was only 60 years ago that we won our sovereignty after a long and bloody war. Our freedom fighters paid with their lives to gain independence for all.

One characteristic that freedom fighters have in common, irrespective of whether or not they accomplish their objective, is that they are a well of undying hope.

Arafat may have died, but the struggle will go on. His hopes for an independent state, in which the people are free and live in peace and dignity, will remain alive no matter who takes the helm, because they are the hopes of the Palestinian people.